Porto confirm new manager for next season

Following a disappointing season on the pitch FC Porto have confirmed the identity of the man who will take charge next season.

Luis Castro was given the job on an interim basis following the sacking of Paulo Fonseca earlier in the season but he couldn't improve results and has been overlooked for the role on a permanent basis.

Instead the job has been given to a man previously charged with shaping the future of Spanish football - Julen Lopetegui.

Lopetegui has enjoyed success with both Spain's under 19 and under 21 teams - achieving European Championship success in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Now Porto have given the former Spain goalkeeper his big break in club management and he'll take charge of the side from the start of next season.

Despite his success with junior national sides, the fact he's never previously worked above the Spanish Segunda Division surely makes the move a massive gamble for a club who expect to compete both domestically and in Europe.

This season the club are resigned to a third placed finish having previously won three consecutive titles, while in the Champions League they were knocked out at the group stage having been pipped to second spot by Zenit St Petersburg.

Fonseca's reign at the Estádio do Dragão started with major transfer activity as moneybags Monaco splashed the cash to sign Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez but Lopetegui will hope for a quiet first summer.

And if he can keep hold of his key assets he'll have no qualms about managing big name players - the Spanish Under 21 team he lead to European Championship glory in 2013 included the likes of Thiago Alcantara, David de Gea and Isco.

Should he feel the need to improve his squad you can expect him to look to Spain for reinforcements, and he certainly has plenty of contacts having spent time at both Real Madrid and Barcelona as a player.

The Porto job is certainly no walk in the park for an inexperienced coach, but Andre Villas-Boas had only had one season in management before taking the reigns and a certain Jose Mourinho was hardly a household name before leading the club to Champions League glory.

DISCLAIMER: This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article. GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: http://gms.to/writeforgms

Report author of article

DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Want more content like this?

Like our GiveMeSport Facebook Page and you will get this directly to you.